INTRODUCTION. Vll 



^N'ot only lias it grace and elegance of form, but it lias also 

 richness, and delicacy, and variety of colouring. In some species 

 the tints are intensely vivid as the shifting lights of the aurora 

 borealis, or the glowing hues of an autumnal sunset; in others 

 pale and dehcate as the first indications of coming morn, or the 

 scarcely-perceptible tinge of a just expanding flower-bud; in some 

 the coloui's are arranged in patterns, regularly disposed; in others, 

 in masses and blotches, of varying shapes and degrees of intensity ; 

 in some again they seem to change and melt one into the other, 

 like the prismatic hues of the rainbow. lu all, whether distinct 

 and unconnected, or intimately blended, whether regular or irregular, 

 they are beautiful exceedingly. Xor is their beauty of an evanes- 

 cent, that is fading, or vanishing character; unlike plants and 

 animals, which when once dead, are extremely difficidt of preser- 

 vation, Shells, being composed of particles already in natural 

 combination, are almost mdestructible ; unless exposed to the action 

 of fire, or some powerful acid, they will remain the same for ages, 

 requiring no care or attention, beyond occasionally removing the 

 dust, which would collect upon and defile their pearly whiteness, 

 or obscure the brilliancy of their colours. 



So easily collected, arranged, and preserved, and witlial so sin- 

 gidar and gracefid of form, and rich and various of tint, one 

 cannot wonder that Shells have always had a conspicuous place in 

 all museums, and other collections of natural history objects : 

 neither can we feel surprised that a high value should have been 

 set upon rare specimens; as much as a thousand pounds it is 

 said has been given for ihe first discovered specimen of the Venus 

 Dione; another shell called the Conus cedo nulli, is valued at tliree 

 hundred pounds; and the Turho scaloris, if large and perfect, is 

 worth one hundred guineas; while the Cypraa av.raniiv.m, or 

 Orange Cowry, if it has not a hole beaten through it, will fetch 

 fifty guineas. It has been calcidated that a complete collection of 

 British Conchology is worth its weight in silver. 



The following quotation is from "The Young Conchologist," by 

 Miss Eoberts; — our readers will do well to peruse it attentively: 

 — "We admit that sheUs are beautiful, and that they are admirably 

 adapted to the exigencies of the wearers; but how shall we account 

 for the endless diversity of shades and colours, varying from the 

 sober coating of the garden snail, to the delicate and glowing tints 

 which are diffused over some of the finer species, in the infinite 

 profusion of undulations," clouds and spots, bands and reticulated 

 fi^g^ires, with which these admirable architects enrich the walls oi 

 their beautiful receptacles. The means of producing them must 

 be sought for in the animals themselves. Their necks are fur- 

 Jii^hed with pores replete with colouring Ihiid, which blends 



